BP has arguably the best relationship with Baghdad among the world's top international oil companies through its contract at the huge Rumaila field in the south of the country, far from the disputed Kurdish north.

Local authorities have issued arrest warrants for Shibibi, who has left the country, and other bank officials, a decision that has heightened investor concerns Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's government is interfering with the bank's autonomy.

The flow of crude oil on a link carrying about a quarter of Iraq's total exports has resumed on one of two pipes after a fire shut it down, Turkish Energy Minister Taner Yildiz told Reuters on Tuesday.

A fire on a pipeline carrying about a quarter of Iraq's oil exports forced the closure of the link on Monday and halted loading at Turkey's Ceyhan export terminal, security and shipping sources said on Monday.